Hot water (typically 95°C) is distributed from an energy centre and/or other heat sources and is pumped to homes and other buildings using a network of highly insulated pipes.

Local boilers are replaced by small heat exchangers, where heat can be distributed using existing central  heating systems (radiators and water heating cylinders). 

Community heating has been used in this way for many years across Europe, particularly in Scandinavian countries. Denmark has more than half of all homes heated from community heating schemes.

Disappointingly, the use of such systems hasn't been as widespread in the United Kingdom.  However there are some very successful schemes in Nottingham, Sheffield and Southampton, where both commercial and public buildings as well as some residential properties are part of a heat network.  Please visit the further information section to access case studies.

You can now read more about the following topics:

Community heating can use a wide variety of fuel choices beyond those available to individual domestic systems. These include:

• Waste heat from industrial processes;
• Biomass boilers;
• Dedicated Combined Heat and Power Plants (CHP);
• Energy from waste (EfW);
• Geothermal and even solar energy; and
• Conventional gas boiler plant.

CHP is a highly efficient way to use both fossil and renewable fuels and therefore can make a positive  contribution to carbon dioxide emission savings.

The distribution network transfers hot water from a heat source to the individual buildings on the system, and then back again, i.e. flow and return pipes.

Distribution pipes are heavily insulated and heat losses are almost negligible.  The pipe work used in community heating schemes, typically incorporates intelligent monitoring systems used to diagnose problems by a 24 hour response team.

Heating networks may comprise of just one or two buildings, a block of flats or even a vast heating network such as the Copenhagen district heating scheme (a link to a case study is available here).

The Copenhagen heating scheme consists of a 34 mile long distribution pipeline using 3 booster pump stations, 14 peak load units, and 26 heat exchanger stations to transfer the heat to the local district heating systems.

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To design and operate a community heating scheme understanding the customers heat demand characteristics (i.e. how much heat and when) is critical.

Every building has a unique heat demand, which is typically based upon on physical and occupant behavior.  Physical aspects influencing heat demand are, location, building size, building type (industrial, commercial, residential etc), building status (new build, old stock etc) and of course seasonality.

The accumulated peak demand for heat largely dictates the capacity requirement of both heat source and distribution pipe work, impacting the required capital for a heating scheme.  The most economically viable community heating schemes are those with a high demand density with a stable heating requirement throughout the day.

Securing connection contracts to a heating network is considered the biggest risk to community heating schemes.

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Community heating schemes requires a dedicated business to operate, maintain and to manage commercial arrangements such as metering and billing.  In most cases this is managed by an Energy Service Company (ESCo).   More detail click here.